A United Effort

For the past seven years, Faith Technologies, Menasha, Wis., has held events and fundraisers supporting the efforts of the United Way, which uses donations to help community members achieve success through education, income stability and health. In 2012 alone, employees raised more than $10,000 and the company donated nearly $5,000 to the organization.

“Every little bit counts, and to know the United Way is truly making a difference in our communities makes us feel even better about our efforts,” says Faith Technologies CEO Rollie Stephenson.

One way employees get involved is through a pledge form drive, in which they can opt to have money deducted from each paycheck to go toward the United Way fund. Occasionally, the company holds contests to encourage employees to sign up for the pledge program, including entering names into a drawing for tickets to sporting events and concerts.

Another creative way Faith Technologies gets employees involved is through its Jean Day sticker fundraiser. Staff members can pay $1 for a sticker that allows them to wear jeans and casual clothes to work. The firm also sponsors lunches throughout the year during which employees can donate to the United Way fund.

In addition to the company-wide United Way effort, Faith Technologies puts a local spin on community outreach by having each of its 15 offices in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Georgia choose a nonprofit organization to support. For example, the Kansas City office holds a canned food drive during which employees split into teams to build structures out of the cans. After the competition, they donate the goods to a local food bank.

“Being involved in the communities that we serve is a very important part of our culture. The United Way is just one way our employees give back to their communities,” says Tom Clark, Faith Technologies’ executive vice president of preconstruction. “To have a company that supports the communities where they live means a lot to our employees.”